There are alot of forums and social networking media around. Alot of avenues for people to give their viewpoints, give feedbacks, gossips, vent their frustration about certain issues etc. I do visit a few eg STOMP. I read the posts that people put up. Quite a number of posts were dissatisfaction about how people behaved insensitively or how they went against rules and regulations.
Today I saw this survey on STOMP.
Will you tell someone off for eating or not giving up their seats on the bus and MRT?
1. Yes, they need to be taught a lesson!
2. Yes, but in a firm, polite way.
3. No, but I'll stare at them and wait for someone else to do it.
4. No, but I'll snap a picture and send it to STOMP.
5. I'll do nothing; it's none of my business.
What will you do? I hope my answer will be no. 2 but I have no track record to back me up. "I will do nothing" seems to be my most honest answer. Not doing anything is not because I think it is none of my business but rather I may not have enough courage for me to do that. Probably my courage does allow me to use my eyes or body language to hint to him that he is not doing what is right.
Whatever it is, I guess this is something I got to be aware and make sure I do the right thing by His grace.
Singapore MRT vendors have tried their best to do colour coding, sign board and even explicit word like "Reserved" with arrow to be clear that those seats are priority seats and they are for those who are in need. I was quite amused by the extent they put to try to secure seats for the elders, pregnant, handicap and babies. Something I learnt during my primary school days in "好公民" became something so formalise. It is about helping others, being considerate, being polite etc. Are we losing these values? If not why do we need to be so explicit about this?
Is it a culture issue? Or is it about values and character?
Something that I hear quite often is the "theory of reference".
"He is also doing it, why can't I?"; "Why am I wrong when others are doing it?" ; "They are doing it too. "
Those are such convenient excuses to use. Try telling the officers when you are caught, "so and so also speed what" or "so and so also litters". If the officials can't accept these, what make it sounds so right in our eyes? And God will definitely not tolerate such answers. We are accountable for our own lives and we should do what is right. This reminds me on the first church camp teaching about integrity, how Joseph chose to do the right thing publicly and privately.
Why do we follow/quote the bad examples? Why can't we follow/quote the good examples? Are we trying to justify? Are we trying to blame others and pushed away our faults?
Jul 2, 2009
Updates for June 2009
WOw it has been a month since I blogged. If I wait longer, i may give up blogging altogether. It seems like a short month to me. Guess time really flies and seems faster as I grow older. haha.
Here are some photos taken in June 2009.
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This is how Marina Barrage looks like.
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A view taken at the barrage
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Kite flying seems to be popular at the Barrage
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Liping's Birthday
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CG sisters at Mid Valley during our church camp 09
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CG @ Church Camp 2009
I had a good time of fellowship and bonding with CG at the church camp. This year's theme was Heroes. From the camp, I realised that heroes aren't without weakness or flaw. But what they did despite their weakness bring them there.
A quote that stick to my mind from the camp goes something like this,
" Mountain top experiences are inspiration but character is built in valleys, fruits are bore in valleys"
How true. It is only through experiences in valleys that we mature and bear fruit. Now I see much value in God's tests and trials. And some pain and suffering has much value as well.
In this camp, I had a fresh experience of God's gentleness. This was known to me at the mind level and now I am able to identify at the heart level. It happened during the first worship session; I seems to be able to feel Jesus' gentleness as I see him going around ministering to people, healing them and showing love and concern to them. I can only give to people what I receive from God. I believe this experience will help me grow in my gentleness as I minister to others. =)
The camp teachings were powerful and I gathered and concluded from the teachings and points that He wants me to have faith in Him and step out to answer His call and persevere. Sound simple enough but to do it takes a great deal out of me because I wouldn't need to have faith in Him if His call are within my known capability or threshold. God has been speaking to me on faith for the past month or two. I guess I need to focus my eyes on Him and take up challenges with faith and not look at my weakness and find referral for Him...
I pray that I will be faithful and FAITHful to His calling and always a "Yes" to Jesus and "No" to my sinful desires.
Jun 5, 2009
To fear God is to believe God.
To fear God is to believe God. To believe God is to obey Him.
So if we do not obey Him, it means we do not believe in His words or His promises. If we do not believe in His words or His promises, why would we fear Him?
When we say we believe in Him, what do we mean? Do we believe certain things about Him, about what He said or do we believe in all that He said?
If we believe in Him, we believe in who He says he is and what He says he will do. The more we believe in Him, the more we believe in who He is and what He says he will do. The more honour, respect and reverence we will give to Him for he is so great and awesome. The more assurance we get to trust in Him and to follow His instructions and ways.
Initially when I thought about the coming church camp theme, Heros, I thought what can I learnt from the Heros. There is always something to learn but how is that applicable to me. Not that I am godly but rather what can I really benefit from these teachings.
Incidently I was reading a book called "The Fear of the Lord" and in this book, a number of bible characters are mentioned and commended for their revere fear for the Lord. And deeper insight are given to how these heros' deeds reflect their fear for the Lord and their desire for His presence.
One example is Moses. He denied royalty and chose to retain his identity as Israelite. He obeyed God to perform the miracles and led the Israelites out of Eygpt. He chose to stand firm to his calling despite of the complaints and insults from his people. He would not want to be away from His presence (Exodus33:15), he rather not go to the promised land if God is not going.
I have been praying to have breakthrough in my fear for the Lord and this book inspired me to learn from these Heros in the bible. I am sure I can learn from them in this camp and now I am really looking forward for the rhema word that He will speak to me thr this camp. =D
"How happy are those who fear the LORD-all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life! Your wife will be like a fruitful vine, flourishing within your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around your table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees. That is the LORD's reward for those who fear him." Psalms 128:1-4(NLT)
Do you fear man?
If you desire the praise of man, you will fear man. If you fear man, you will serve him- for you will serve what you fear.
The seeds among the Thorns
Has been procrastinating this blog for a long time. My excuse is no time to go online to update blog. haha typical excuse.. but I have time to go online to read comic!!!
Anyway I shared this with my cg before. God spoke to me through this verse.
"Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades so that it produced no grain" Mark 4:7
It speaks clearly from the verse that if the spiritual seed is to grow among the thorns, it will bear no fruit. Fruit here could mean fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. We will not have these lasting fruit in us if we are choked up by these thorns. In simple terms, this could be the hearts of worldly christians. They still do christian activities but their heart are choked with thorns.
These thorns could be distraction, worries, addiction, negativism etc that we have. It's seed may appear harmless at first but it can grow to something thorny and choking in our heart. So we have to be careful of what we are sowing in our heart.
What seeds are we sowing in our heart? Will these seeds grow to be like thorns or will they grow to bear spiritual fruits? With the thorns, there wouldn't be space for spiritual seeds to grow and bear fruit.
What inputs are we allowing ourselves to receive? What habits are we cultivating? Are they beneficial, are they destructive or distracting? What are our values and priorities in our lives, are they thorny?
In order for spiritual seeds to grow better and bear fruit, we have to remove those thorny plants rooted in our heart. It will be painful and difficult. We need God's help to remove them and we have to replace that leftover void/space with spiritual seeds or else other seeds will take over.
We are recognised by our fruit. So are we thorny or fruitty?
Anyway I shared this with my cg before. God spoke to me through this verse.
"Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades so that it produced no grain" Mark 4:7
It speaks clearly from the verse that if the spiritual seed is to grow among the thorns, it will bear no fruit. Fruit here could mean fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. We will not have these lasting fruit in us if we are choked up by these thorns. In simple terms, this could be the hearts of worldly christians. They still do christian activities but their heart are choked with thorns.
These thorns could be distraction, worries, addiction, negativism etc that we have. It's seed may appear harmless at first but it can grow to something thorny and choking in our heart. So we have to be careful of what we are sowing in our heart.
What seeds are we sowing in our heart? Will these seeds grow to be like thorns or will they grow to bear spiritual fruits? With the thorns, there wouldn't be space for spiritual seeds to grow and bear fruit.
What inputs are we allowing ourselves to receive? What habits are we cultivating? Are they beneficial, are they destructive or distracting? What are our values and priorities in our lives, are they thorny?
In order for spiritual seeds to grow better and bear fruit, we have to remove those thorny plants rooted in our heart. It will be painful and difficult. We need God's help to remove them and we have to replace that leftover void/space with spiritual seeds or else other seeds will take over.
We are recognised by our fruit. So are we thorny or fruitty?
May 18, 2009
The Great Commission
Recently I was pondering about my life and I was reminded about The Great Commission that Jesus had given to his disciples. I remembered Pastor Ben often said in the past that if you were to cut a Hope member, he will bleed Great Commission. That was to show how committed Hope member is to The Great Commission. I am wondering whether this is still true now. Will I "bleed Great Commission"?
As a christian, I want to follow Christ and I want Christ to be my master and head. I want to be a disciple of Christ, someone who will obey his commandments and live out his teachings. So I am tasked to fulfil The Great Commission in my lifetime. What does that mean? I am to make disciple who has close relationship with God. I am to teach him/her everything that Christ had taught. It is not just about sharing gospel, it is about continuous sowing, teaching and nurturing.
We are living in the beginning of the end times. If tribulation were to come tomorrow, can my disciples/flock go through it? Can I go through it? The tribulation mention in the bible sounds extremely terrible. Hanhui describe it(during the last WFL) as a time where we might have to choose between our life or Jesus, our fingers or Jesus, our nails or Jesus etc.
I think it is easy for me to say that I can give up my life for Jesus but when I imagine my fingers, nails, eyes or similar kind of torture that I have to go through for Jesus. Can I really hold on to my faith and belief? Or will I give it up to preserve myself?
During the Prayer meet on last Fri, the first and second prophecy encourages me. I was getting discourage but God wants me to know that nothing is more important than to know the fact that He loves me and nothing is more important to Him than to know I love him. I can be joyful always and not to feel discourage even when I don't see fruit in ministry. And the second prophecy talks about The Great Commission. It is exactly what I have been thinking about. It inspired me to do my best to help my sheep, cg and myself to grow in our convictions about God and his teachings and also about the Great Commission. These are the last words of Jesus before he ascend to Heaven. It must be important.
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age. " Matt 28:19-20
As a christian, I want to follow Christ and I want Christ to be my master and head. I want to be a disciple of Christ, someone who will obey his commandments and live out his teachings. So I am tasked to fulfil The Great Commission in my lifetime. What does that mean? I am to make disciple who has close relationship with God. I am to teach him/her everything that Christ had taught. It is not just about sharing gospel, it is about continuous sowing, teaching and nurturing.
We are living in the beginning of the end times. If tribulation were to come tomorrow, can my disciples/flock go through it? Can I go through it? The tribulation mention in the bible sounds extremely terrible. Hanhui describe it(during the last WFL) as a time where we might have to choose between our life or Jesus, our fingers or Jesus, our nails or Jesus etc.
I think it is easy for me to say that I can give up my life for Jesus but when I imagine my fingers, nails, eyes or similar kind of torture that I have to go through for Jesus. Can I really hold on to my faith and belief? Or will I give it up to preserve myself?
During the Prayer meet on last Fri, the first and second prophecy encourages me. I was getting discourage but God wants me to know that nothing is more important than to know the fact that He loves me and nothing is more important to Him than to know I love him. I can be joyful always and not to feel discourage even when I don't see fruit in ministry. And the second prophecy talks about The Great Commission. It is exactly what I have been thinking about. It inspired me to do my best to help my sheep, cg and myself to grow in our convictions about God and his teachings and also about the Great Commission. These are the last words of Jesus before he ascend to Heaven. It must be important.
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age. " Matt 28:19-20
May 13, 2009
Updates
It has been a long time since I last blog. Now for the updates. For this period of my absence online, I have went through my national service (second last one!!), first paint ball experience, sickness and my first WFL teaching experience.
My national service was a relaxing one. Most of it was preparation and conducting of ranges. There is a change to how the range is to be conducted. Now it is more war-like. Compare to the previous range, this is closer to reality if we really engage enemy. I am glad and proud of such improvement. I hope to see more of such initiative to build up our soldiers to be ready to protect our country when the button is pressed.
Thank God I got marksman (because of team effort) and silver award for my IPPT! My exercise regime works!! I wonder whether I can get Gold next year. Haha.. sounds impossible..
Probably because of the national service, I went to Danga mall with friends and we played archery and paint ball. There isn't much things in Danga mall but archery is quite cheap at RM50 for 150arrows. We had a good time of shooting. And shawn, yeu ann and myself went ahead for paint ball. My first experience there and I ate paint ball within the first 5 min of play. My opponent team was a veteran team. When they are in position, poping my head out means immediate KO. My team were unable to make much advance and we lost. After that, we have a mini game among ourselves and it was quite fun. Yeu ann earned a couple of war scar from Shawn. Next time I will ask more people to go for it. All guys outing to DANGA MALL for PAINT BALL!! haha.. Instead of DOTA, Let's do some real damage in a game of paint ball..
I had fever before I started work again after my national service. In view of the swine flu, I went to consult a doctor to be sure. Thankfully, it was nothing as serious. I was able to resume my work with 1 day of MC. I went to the polyclinic for my consultation. I was glad that the episode of SARS has helped our health care officers to be more ready to handle this new threat. Forms are handled out to be filled, temperature were taken, stickers were given, masks were given as well and a designated area for registration and consultation was given for people like me with symptom of swine flu. Because of this, I took a relatively shorter waiting time for my turn. Praise God.
I had my first teaching session in WFL. It was a humbling experience. I was nervous and appear disorganise and not confident about what I teach. My time and class management wasn't good too. I was really discouraged after that but thank God for my co instructors who were there to give me feedback on what I can do better and what I have done well. I learnt alot from them. My wife gave me alot of support and encouragement along our trip back. She did a good job in easing my heart. Frankly I did think that I am not cut out to teach and wanted to give up teaching in WFL or to large group totally. But to admit defeat isn't what a victorious christian should do and it is a privilege to serve the LORD. I wanted to continue to improve myself to teach better. If I am lacking in knowledge, I will read more. If I am weak in delivery, I will teach more in smaller settings and practice more on my own. Thank God that I have a wife who teach everyday. I can get some tips from her as well. When the privilege comes again, I want to be ready to serve my LORD better. =)
Ok that's all for the moment.
My national service was a relaxing one. Most of it was preparation and conducting of ranges. There is a change to how the range is to be conducted. Now it is more war-like. Compare to the previous range, this is closer to reality if we really engage enemy. I am glad and proud of such improvement. I hope to see more of such initiative to build up our soldiers to be ready to protect our country when the button is pressed.
Thank God I got marksman (because of team effort) and silver award for my IPPT! My exercise regime works!! I wonder whether I can get Gold next year. Haha.. sounds impossible..
Probably because of the national service, I went to Danga mall with friends and we played archery and paint ball. There isn't much things in Danga mall but archery is quite cheap at RM50 for 150arrows. We had a good time of shooting. And shawn, yeu ann and myself went ahead for paint ball. My first experience there and I ate paint ball within the first 5 min of play. My opponent team was a veteran team. When they are in position, poping my head out means immediate KO. My team were unable to make much advance and we lost. After that, we have a mini game among ourselves and it was quite fun. Yeu ann earned a couple of war scar from Shawn. Next time I will ask more people to go for it. All guys outing to DANGA MALL for PAINT BALL!! haha.. Instead of DOTA, Let's do some real damage in a game of paint ball..
I had fever before I started work again after my national service. In view of the swine flu, I went to consult a doctor to be sure. Thankfully, it was nothing as serious. I was able to resume my work with 1 day of MC. I went to the polyclinic for my consultation. I was glad that the episode of SARS has helped our health care officers to be more ready to handle this new threat. Forms are handled out to be filled, temperature were taken, stickers were given, masks were given as well and a designated area for registration and consultation was given for people like me with symptom of swine flu. Because of this, I took a relatively shorter waiting time for my turn. Praise God.
I had my first teaching session in WFL. It was a humbling experience. I was nervous and appear disorganise and not confident about what I teach. My time and class management wasn't good too. I was really discouraged after that but thank God for my co instructors who were there to give me feedback on what I can do better and what I have done well. I learnt alot from them. My wife gave me alot of support and encouragement along our trip back. She did a good job in easing my heart. Frankly I did think that I am not cut out to teach and wanted to give up teaching in WFL or to large group totally. But to admit defeat isn't what a victorious christian should do and it is a privilege to serve the LORD. I wanted to continue to improve myself to teach better. If I am lacking in knowledge, I will read more. If I am weak in delivery, I will teach more in smaller settings and practice more on my own. Thank God that I have a wife who teach everyday. I can get some tips from her as well. When the privilege comes again, I want to be ready to serve my LORD better. =)
Ok that's all for the moment.
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